Air vent guard



Feb. 15, 1938, H MAXAM 2,108,721

AIR VENT GUARD Filed Nov'. 25, 1936 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a guard for the air vent devices primarily of steam heating systems.

At the present time, especially in schools and where there are children, such air vent devices,

which are screwed in place, are turned mischievously from an upstanding position to various angles and in addition the vent openings are plugged with sticks, gum and the like, seriously interfering with the escape of air and heating of the radiators to which the devices are attached.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a means which will prevent the said tampering with or displacement of the air vent devices so that they will efficiently function at all times.

It is also aimed to provide a structure in the nature of an attachment which is exceedingly simple, inexpensive and durable, and will further prevent the turning of the air vent devices on their screw threads, eventually resulting in the stripping and ruining thereof.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the de- 5 scription following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:-

Figure 1 is a View showing a fragment of a steam heating radiator equipped with an air vent device, and also with my improvements;

Figure 2 is a view showing my improvements in plan in connection with a cross sectional part of the radiator;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but of a modified form, and

Figure 5 is a view showing the modified form in plan and in connection with a cross sectional part of the radiator.

Referring specifically to the drawing, and first to the form of Figures 1 to 3, a conventional radiator, as used in a steam heating system is frag- 45 mentarily shown at II], having an air vent device II of conventional form, screw threaded thereto as at I2. These air vent devices, around children, as in school rooms, are frequently mischievously 50 turned by the children at the screw threaded connection I2, displacing the device out of the upstanding position and unduly wearing the screw threads I2, which prevents eflicient heating and causes undue wear on the screw threads I2.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel attachment is employed as at I3, preferably stamped from a single sheet or strip of metal.

This attachment comprises a band I4 which surrounds the device II and which at its free ends terminates in jaws I5, to embrace a leg of the radiator and which jaws at their free ends have hooks I6. In order to augment the inherent 5 ability of the jaws I5 to spring toward each other and to grip the leg of the radiator, a bolt is employed as at I! which passes through suitable openings in the clamp between the device II and the leg of the radiator and which has a nut at 10 I8, operable thereon to effect a binding action of the jaws on the radiator leg and of the band I4 on the device II.

In addition, said attachment I3 employs a guard finger I9 which extends upwardly from the band I4 and over and relatively close tothe air outlet or vent opening at the top or apex of the device II.

It will thus be seen that the device not only prevents turning the air vent device by hand, but it also guards the vent opening against the placing of obstructing means in such opening.

As there are various types of radiators and air vent devices marketed and in use, it is obvious that the invention may be varied in accordance 25 therewith. For example, in Figures 4 and 5, the air vent device II is different in shape but similar in function to that at I I, being connected by a screw threaded nipple I2 to the radiator III. In the present instance, the attachment is des- 30 ignated I3 and is identical with that at I3 except the band I4, functioning like that at I4, is substantially square rather than round, to conform to the shape of the device II.

I claim as my invention:

1. An air vent attachment of the class described comprising a band to embrace an air vent device, jaws extending from the band for attachment to a radiator, means extending from the band and integral therewith for disposition over and relatively close to the vent opening of said device consisting of a finger, to prevent foreign matter entering the vent opening in said air vent device, and means operable to simultaneously bind the jaws to the radiator and the band to the device.

2. An air vent attachment of the class described comprising a band to embrace an air vent device, jaws extending from the band for attachment to a radiator, means extending from the band for disposition over and relatively close to the vent opening of said device consisting of a finger, means operable to bind the jaws to the radiator and the band to the device, comprising a bolt, hooks on the free ends of the jaws, and 0 said finger being integral with the band.

HARVEY K. MAXAM. 

